AriaMy eyes scan the girl from head to toe. She’s tall…like, runway model who could strut in six-inch heels without breaking a sweat tall. Her long, jet-black hair looks like it belongs in a shampoo commercial, all glossy and perfect. Those hazel eyes of hers sparkle like she’s been genetically engineered in a lab for maximum perfection. And her skin? Ugh, smooth, olive-toned, and glowing like she bathes in liquid gold. Honestly, if we weren’t in this situation, I’d probably be begging her for skincare tips.She arches a perfectly plucked brow at me. "Can I help you?" Her voice is smooth, but her tone? Full of sass.Oh, this is who Lucas didn’t come home for? Perfect."Who are you?" I snap, crossing my arms. "Where’s Alpha Lucas? And what exactly were you doing in there?"She stares at me like I’ve just told her Die Hard isn’t a Christmas movie, then starts laughing. LAUGHING. Like I’m the joke here.Before I can say something that might get me banned from Christmas forever, the door
Mia “So that’s what happened,” Theo says thoughtfully. “Poor Aria.” “We’ll tell her the truth,” Lily sighs. “She’ll be alright.” “Is there even a point, though?” Damon chimes in, leaning back casually. “Maybe they’re just not meant to be together.” Everyone glares at him, but honestly? The bastard has a point. Not that I’d ever admit it out loud. “So now that you know what happened, we’re not the villains here,” Damon continues, flashing a grin that’s so cocky I want to wipe it off his face with a sledgehammer. “What do you say you make it up to us and buy us a drink?” “You wish,” I snap, rolling my eyes. “Uh, thank you so much, guys. We appreciate it,” Lily smiles at them like they’re knights in shining armor instead of the clowns they are. “Come on, Mia, let’s go.” But of course, Damon can’t leave well enough alone. “Before you go,” he says, his grin turning into something straight out of a playboy handbook. “Do you have a date for the Christmas party tonight, Mia?”
Aria I’ve been lying in bed for what feels like a century trying to sleep. But it’s not happening. My brain’s doing the Olympics of overthinking, and the main event is Lucas the Jerk. The fact that he didn’t even bother to check on me? Yeah, that stings more than I care to admit.I’m mid-sulk when the door swings open without so much as a knock. My heart does this stupid leap, thinking maybe it’s Lucas, but nope, it’s Mia and Lily. Great.I groan like a dying animal and yank the covers over my head. Maybe if I play dead, they’ll leave.“Aria… you good?” Mia’s voice is way too chipper for my current mood. I feel the bed dip as she plops down, and before I can say, “Leave me alone,” she starts tugging at the covers.“Aria, come on.”“Go away!” I whine, clutching the blanket like my life depends on it. But Mia? That girl has the strength of a goddamn warrior, and she yanks the covers clean off. I glare at them both, looking like a pissed-off burrito.“I thought you guys were eating,” I
Lucas So, there I am, sprawled out on this lumpy-ass couch in the cabin, trying to relax, but my brain? Oh, no. It’s staging a full-blown coup. My eyes keep drifting over to the door like Aria’s just gonna waltz in, looking all pissed and gorgeous with those soft green eyes of hers. Man, the way she looked at me earlier? It was like I personally kicked a puppy. Sad. Disappointed. Haunting.And here I am, just... sitting. My wolf is losing his mind in the background, pacing and growling, ‘Go get her, dumbass! She’s our mate!’ But nah, can’t do it. Won’t do it. I mean, technically, our whole “relationship” is fake anyway. Right? RIGHT?!The door suddenly swings open, and my dumb ass actually sits up like some lovesick dummy. Plot twist—it’s not Aria. Nope. It’s Sarita, my sister. Of course.She plops down on the table across from me with that trademark smug look. "You thought it was her, didn’t you?""I just wanted to make sure," I mumble. "I wasn’t expecting anyone, okay?""Yeah, righ
Aria I’ve been pacing this damn room ever since Sarita left, and honestly? I can’t decide if I’m going to the party or not. But urge to go is so fucking strong.Then there’s a knock on the door. Great. More distractions. I yank it open, and in stroll Mia and Lily, laughing like they’re fresh off a comedy show.“Hey, Aria, you’re up and looking better,” Mia notes, giving me the once-over like some kind of worried mom.“Sarita just left,” I blurt out, crossing my arms.Lily freezes mid-step. “Wait, what? Sarita was here? What the hell did she want?”Oh, hell no. I narrow my eyes at both of them. “Hold up…how the fuck do you guys know who Sarita is?”Mia tries playing dumb, blinking at me like she’s never heard the name before. “Uh, I don’t know… Who’s that?”I glare at her. Not buying it. Not for a second. “Spill.”She sighs, flopping onto the couch like a dramatic teenager. “Fine. Earlier, Lily and I went to Damon and Theo to ask who the chick with Alpha Lucas was, and, well…”I throw
AriaThe party is a Christmas wonderland. Lights twinkle everywhere, and tall Christmas trees tower like something straight out of a fantasy movie. Cruise parties always go all out, but this? This is next-level magic. I pause to take it all in, then scan the room for Mia and Lily. Nowhere in sight. Typical. Probably running late.My gaze drifts, searching for him. Lucas. But instead, I spot his two idiot friends, Damon and Theo hanging in a corner. The urge to storm over and demand where Lucas is burns in my chest, but I squash it. Tonight isn’t about that jerk.I make a beeline for the cocktail table, grabbing a drink. And, of course, there he is…Ethan. The devil himself, complete with his stupid smirk and Vanessa. Ethan’s in a tailored suit, looking ugly, while Vanessa is...whatever. I refuse to let her outfit occupy any real estate in my brain.“Aria,” Ethan purrs, eyeing me like he owns the air I breathe.I sip my drink, pretending not to notice.“You look…”“Tacky,” Vanessa cuts
AriaLucas has me slung over his shoulder like I’m some kind of sack of potatoes, and I’m flailing like a lunatic. “Let me go, you overgrown brute! Put me down!” I’m yelling, but he just keeps walking like he doesn’t hear a word I’m saying.We finally reach the game room, which is thankfully empty, and he sets me down like it’s some grand act of mercy. I stumble back, glaring at him with all the fury I can muster. “What the fuck is your problem? I told you to let me go!” I tug at my torn dress, trying to salvage whatever dignity I have left. The gown’s a disaster, but at least it’s still covering me…barely.“You expect me to leave you on the floor crying?” His voice booms, startling me. “Seriously, Aria?”I laugh, sharp and bitter, shaking my head. “Don’t give me that crap, Lucas. Like you give a damn about me.”“Lucas? Really?” He chuckles dryly, clearly not amused. “That’s what we’re doing?”I cross my arms, glaring at him. “Yeah, Lucas. Isn’t that your name? Or do you think you des
Aria By the time we pull away from the kiss, my heart’s thumping so hard I swear it’s trying to break out of my chest. My whole body? Yeah, it’s officially on fire. Desire is a bitch like that.“That was… lovely,” Lucas murmurs, brushing a strand of hair out of my face smoothly. “You’re so fucking beautiful.”Great. Just great. Now my thighs are wet, and I’m officially pissed at my own body for reacting this way from just a fucking kiss. Why is this bastard so good at seduction? Like, did he take lessons or something?“Thanks,” I manage, but my voice comes out shaky, which is so not the vibe I was going for. “Did you… really mean it? That you like me?”He smiles….one of those confident, panty-dropping smiles that should be illegal. “Wasn’t it obvious?”Obvious? No, sir. Sometimes he’s hot, sometimes he’s cold. He’s like Katy Perry on steroids.“Aria,” he says seriously, his gray eyes locking onto mine, “I really like you. But I’m scared. I don’t want to hurt you like Ethan did.”“The
Aria“So, what are we gonna do about this?” Mia glares at the box sitting like some cursed artifact in the trash can.I cross my arms, scowling at the damn thing. “I don’t know, but whoever’s doing this is seriously grinding my nerves.” I glance at the boutique behind us. “We were outside, then went in. Maybe they shoved it in there while we were distracted.”“Or when we stopped at the restaurant,” Lily chimes in, suspicious.I tug at my hair, frustration clawing at my scalp. “I don’t care where or when! All I know is this asshole is messing with us.”“No scent,’’ Mia sniffs the air like a bloodhound. “They definitely masked it. Smart, sneaky bastard.”Lily hugs herself, staring at the box like it’s a ticking bomb. “Aria, maybe we should just tell Alpha Lucas. Let him deal with this.”“No, not yet.” I grab the box and hug it to my chest. “We don’t need to bring him into this. I’ve got it under control.”Mia arches a brow so high it might’ve hit orbit. “Oh, yeah? How exactly, Einstein?
Aria"Okay, everyone calm the hell down," I mutter, resting my elbow on the table and glancing around. The room’s buzzing with chatter, forks clinking against plates, and nobody seems to notice the chaos brewing at our table. “We have to be careful. The culprit might be here.”Mia leans forward, her eyes wide like fucking saucer. “That’s why this is so fucking crazy! We can’t just keep quiet about it, Aria. We need to report it.”“She’s right,” Lily adds, her fingers tightening around her coffee mug. “This is insane. I mean, it’s you. Aren’t you scared?”I let out a breath, running my hand through my hair. “Of course I’m scared! But I wanna figure out who did this shit first.” My voice drops to a whisper. “This isn’t just some prank.”“Uh, what about the finger? Like, what if someone finds it in the trash?” Lily sips her coffee like she didn’t just say the most horrifying thing ever.“Great,” Mia groans, pushing her plate away. “Now I’m imagining someone opening the trash and finding
MiaI can’t fucking believe what I’ve done. Like, seriously, what the actual fuck, Mia? I slept with Damon. DAMON.As I put on my shoes and throw on my gown, I feel my cheeks burn hotter than a stove. I bolt out of his room before he can even open his damn mouth to say anything. Nope, not today, Satan. No way I’m sticking around for his silly explanations or that infuriating smirk.By the time I reach my suite, I’m practically yanking at my hair. How am I gonna explain this to Lily? She’ll never let me live this down. I pause at the door, punching in the code and taking a deep breath. I just hope she’s still asleep…or, I don’t know, passed out drunk.The door slides open, and of course, the universe hates me because there they are… Lily and Aria, sitting on the bed, staring at me like they’re on the goddamn Supreme Court.“And she makes an appearance,” Lily chirps, crossing her arms. Aria? She looks like she’s trying not to laugh.“Alright, I can explain, so don’t give me that look.”
Aria The moment I see Lucas walking toward me, I let out a breath I didn’t even realize I was holding. A few minutes ago, he rushed in just as Ethan stormed off, looking pissed as all hell. Then Lily told him everything, what Ethan said, what he did….and Lucas didn’t even think twice before stomping off to confront him. We begged him not to, but you know Lucas. He never listens when he’s angry“Thank goddess you’re—” My words get cut off as Lucas pulls me into one of those hugs that melts your bones. His arms wrap around me like I’m the only thing anchoring him to Earth, and for a second, I forget how to breathe.“Lucas... are you okay?”He doesn’t answer right away, just buries his face in my neck. “Just a second,” he mutters, his voice muffled against my skin.I don’t argue. Instead, I wrap my arms around him, taking in his familiar scent, something warm and woodsy, like cedar and home.When he finally pulls back, he brushes a strand of hair out of my face, his gray eyes softer tha
Ethan Aria’s looking at me like she’s just waiting for me to explode, her green eyes burning with a fire that’s almost impressive. Almost. Has she lost her goddamn mind? Telling me to fight her….a fucking omega? But hell, she’s not backing down. It’s like she thinks she’s the queen of this little showdown."What are you waiting for? Cold feet already?" Her voice is sharp, mocking, and her eyes don’t leave mine for a second. "You’re nothing but a piece of shit, Ethan. Just look at her." She points to Vanessa, who’s still sprawled on the floor, looking like a kicked puppy. "You shoved your girlfriend. Real classy."My eyes flick to Vanessa, and yeah, she looks embarrassed as hell. I’d almost forgotten she was there. Not my fault...she should’ve left me alone when I warned her. I don’t do clingy.Aria kneels and extends a hand to Vanessa, but Vanessa bats it away and scrambles up on her own, her face red as a damn tomato."You have no right to talk about Alpha Ethan like that," Vanessa
Aria One minute, I’m on cloud nine…Lucas spinning me around the dance floor like I’m the damn queen of the world. The next? Some girl strolls in, a walking, talking buzzkill, and decides to ruin everything. I don’t know who the hell she is, but from the look in Lucas’s eyes, I’ve got a bad feeling about this.I let out a frustrated growl, and just as I’m about to calm down, that bastard Ethan strides over to where I’m standing.I sigh, sipping my cocktail, trying to push the irritation down. Gail, my wolf, isn’t having it, though. She’s growling in my head, pacing like she’s ready to pounce, and honestly? I’m proud of her. That’s the energy I need for this fucking prick.“Wow, you must think you’re Cinderella or something,” he says, all smug and condescending. “You think this is gonna last forever? You really think Lucas will be there to save you when we get back to the pack?”I almost choke on my drink. “Shut the fuck up, you bastard.” I set my glass down with a thunk, glaring at hi
Lucas I freeze, my brain short-circuiting like someone yanked the Wi-Fi router mid-download. Things were going so well…Aria was smiling, laughing, trusting me. And then Serena. Fucking Serena. She just has to show up and ruin it.“Do you know her, Lucas?” Aria’s voice cuts through my mental meltdown sharply.I glance at her. She doesn’t look impressed. At all. In fact, she looks like she’s five seconds from shoving me off this ship, and, honestly, I’d probably deserve it. My chest tightens.“She’s nobody serious,” I mutter, my eyes still glued to Serena. But Aria? She scoffs, crossing her arms, and my heart sinks like a lead balloon.“Are you sure about that, Alpha Lucas?” Serena pipes up, her voice sugary sweet but sharp enough to upset me.My fists clench by my sides as I shoot Aria a pleading look. “Give me a second, okay? I’ll be right back.”Aria doesn’t answer. Her lips press into a thin, unimpressed line, and I know I’m walking on the thinnest of ice.“Aria,” I say softly, “pl
Aria“Come on,” he says, scooping me up bridal style. “Let’s go shower.”And let’s just say the shower is far from innocent. We end up going another round before finally cleaning up.Back in the room, wrapped in towels, I grab my ruined dress with a sigh. No way I can wear this again.A knock at the door interrupts my thoughts. Lucas answers, cracking it open just enough to take something from whoever’s outside. When he turns around, he’s holding a cloth bag.“Who was that?” I ask.“Max,” he says, handing me the bag. “I asked him to bring you a new dress.”Wow! I pull the dress out of the bag, and my jaw just about hits the floor. It’s a pink ball gown, glittering with sequins and stones, catching the light like it’s straight out of a Disney princess movie. Like, I might as well be Cinderella, except I’m not rocking a glass slippers.“This is so fucking beautiful,” I breathe, running my fingers over the fabric like it’s made of literal magic.Lucas leans casually against the wall, arm
Aria "Aria... if you're not ready—""I'm ready," I cut him off firmly. "I mean, it's been days since we found out we're mates. Soon it's going to hurt if we don't mark each other."The second I tell Lucas I’m ready, something changes in his eyes. His gray gaze darkens, flickering with something intense, something raw. He strokes my cheek softly, making my heart flutter even though the back of my mind is screaming with doubt. What happens if he changes his mind later? If he rejects me? I’d be wrecked…shattered.But right now, I don’t care. I want this. I want him.The sharp sting of his teeth sinking into my neck snaps me out of my thoughts. The pain is fiery, but it’s so damn sweet. A shudder tears through my body, and I feel it…this undeniable, electrifying connection. It’s like we’re tied together now, bonded in a way that’s more than just physical. Wrapping my arms and legs around him, I pull him closer, wanting more, needing more.“I’m gonna mark you now,” I whisper in a shaky vo